Roy Rogers/Trigger

The second edition Trigger book runs 360 pages with about 290 images. Not bad. The greedy perfectionist in me would have preferred even more as one picture is indeed worth a thousand words. Super-collector Roy Dillow made many rare images available. Had I been allowed another 50, you can be sure he had them. I thank Roy again for his generosity and enthusiasm, his contributions were critical. The photos featured in the following galleries for the most part did not make the final book edit, I hope to add more periodically.

Len Slye, Dick Weston, and Roy Rogers: three names used by one man during 1937-1938 (Roy Dillow Collection).

Roy Rogers and Trigger who’s in the plastic tack used in later years (Roy Dillow Collection).

Photo from Larry Banks whose friend Richard Hindman got to pose with the King of the Cowboys and the Smartest Horse in the Movies, Little Trigger.

Olivia De Havilland, as Maid Marian, on the Golden Cloud during the Sherwood Forest sequence in “The Adventures of Robin Hood” in 1938. That’s Basil Rathbone on the right as Sir Guy of Gisbourne and character actor Melville Cooper on the left.

Roy Rogers and Guinn “Big Boy” Williams come to Trigger’s aid in Hands Across the Border.

Roy Rogers and Little Trigger entertain school children while on tour (Roy Dillow Collection).

Olivia De Havilland and Errol Flynn on the set of The Adventures of Robin Hood, the Golden Cloud, Maid Marian’s mount, may be seen on the left.

In time Dale Evans became proficient on horseback. Between her husband and trainer Glenn Randall, she had very good teachers. Here she’s on Trigger rearing up as Roy Rogers looks on.

Trigger’s screen mother Lady versus a cougar in My Pal Trigger.

Roy Rogers on Trigger an outtake from the View Master series (Roy Dillow Collection).

Little Trigger gives Roy Rogers a kiss during an episode of the 1950s television show This Is Your Life.

Roy Rogers with the gorgeous Trigger Jr. The Tennessee Walker was the only purebred in the King of the Cowboy’s remuda (Roy Dillow Collection).Ultra-rare autographed shot of Len Slye during the Dick Weston phase of his career. An early rearing shot of Roy Rogers on Trigger on the set of Under Western Stars in 1938, the first screen outing for the duo as a team. Note the inscription, the shortened “Happy Trails” was yet to come (Roy Dillow Collection).Actor Gilbert Rolland rides the Golden Cloud in the Warner Bros. picture Juarez. The former Len Slye as Dick Weston conversing with two unknown Republic Pictures executives. Dick Weston photos are rare and may be identified by the black outfit and white hat. This Little Trigger photo has been reproduced a number of times, which is it was not used in my book. The man on the right is usually identified as Glenn Randall. I’m not so sure. The body type seems different, Glenn had a stocky build. Corky Randall maybe? Both Little Trigger and Trigger Jr were accomplished at dressage routines. It helped that Roy Rogers was very adept in the saddle. Trigger and the Belle Mare, his mate, in The Golden Stallion. The King of the Cowboys poses with two very lucky fans who dropped by Iverson Ranch during production of The Roy Roger Show.Roy Rogers as state trouper in The Heldorado (1946) posing with Trigger in front of the Hoover Dam. Roy Rogers with his Dodge Trigger Hauler on the Republic Studio lot. Roy Rogers and Trigger Jr. standing tall. Roy Rogers, “The Randy Travis Special,” the Happy Trails cattle drive (Roy Dillow Collection). RR and Little Trigger in 1952 Owensboro, Kentucky SportscenterTrigger is the focal point of this tense scene from “The Golden Stallion.” He stands falsely accused of murder. Roger assumes the blame and goes to jail. Director Quentin Tarantino featured the scene briefly in “Kill Bill 2” and discussed it in a New York Times article. Roy Rogers and Little Trigger frequently visited children’s hospitals. Roy would serenade with his guitar, Little Trigger would perform a variety of appropriate tricks. Roy Rogers and Trigger on location at Vasquez Rocks in Agua Dulce, California for YOUNG BUFFALO BILL (1940).

After production ended on Ben-Hur Glenn Randall toured with horses featured in the film. This shot was taken in the back lot at NBC where Roy Rogers and Dale were hosting the weekly Chevy Show. Randall and the Ben-Hur horses appeared circa 1959 promoting his tour and the film. Rogers knew how to drive a chariot and did so in The Lights of Old Santa Fe. I would bet that particular sequence was staged by Yakima Canutt as second unit director (he went on to win an Oscar for his second unit work on Ben-Hur itself (Roy Dillow Collection).

Little Trigger untying a rope, one of the many tricks he mastered (Roy Dillow Collection).

Trigger with Roy Rogers (Roy Dillow Collection).

A very athletic Roy Rogers balancing upside down with the help of a very strong Bob Nolan as the Sons of the Pioneers (Karl Farr, Pat Brady, Lloyd Perryman, Tim Spencer) and an unidentified gym instructor look on.

The one and only Trigger plants his hooves into wet cement at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in 1949. Pat Brady, Dale Evans, Glenn Randall, and Roy Rogers look on (Roy Dillow Collection).

(Roy Dillow Collection)

Errol Flynn, in costume with a Hudkins Bros stable handler and the Golden Cloud, on the set of The Adventures of Robin Hood.

The King of the Cowboy would often visit orphanages and children’s hospitals while on tour. Here Little Trigger bows to his fans.

The Glenn Randall Ranch was home to many a Hollywood horse. Randall (on the right) and his wranglers pose with a few of their charges (from left to right): Rex Allen’s Koko, Rocky Lane’s Blackjack, and Roy Rogers’ Trigger Jr (Roy Dillow Collection).

Edna and Jim Fagan, California Palomino breeders pose with Harvester-Trigger and his new owner Roy Rogers. The King of the Cowboys bought the young stud hoping to start a breeding business. Bamboo-Harvest was another famous alumni from the Fagan stables, who became famous as Mr. Ed.

Roy Rogers and Jane Frazee pause while the Republic crew light a shot. Note the hobbles on Trigger’s canon bones.Little Trigger with his caregiver/trainer Glenn Randall on their way to Europe (Roy Dillow Collection).Dale Evans with her Quarter Horse gelding Buttermilk (Roy Dillow Collection).Roy Rogers and Little Trigger entertaining the troops while on tour during the war (Roy Dillow Collection).A very awkward looking Trigger taking a bow. He rarely took a bad picture, this odd pose did not help. Glenn Randall on the Ben-Hur production set in Italy circa 1958 working with one of his equine students (Roy Dillow Collection). On tour certain fans were allowed to groom Little Trigger. Note the checker-pattern on the palomino’s hindquarters. A very young Roy Rogers on Little Trigger in Palm Springs. Note the tapadero does not yet have the double-R logo. The gentleman on the right remains unidentified. Harverster-Trigger and Roy Rogers. Karl Farr, Tex Williams, Shug Fisher, Connie Haines, Gabby Hayes, Pat Brady, Gene Haddock, George Gobel, Dale Evans, Roy Rogers, Pat Buttram, Ralph Edwards, Fred Martin, Gail Davis, Bert Dodson and Jerry ScogginsJane Russell, Bob Hope, Little Trigger and Roy Rogers during a studio promotional lunch for Son of Paleface.Roy Rogers in My Pal Trigger with the title character as a colt, his mother’s hindquarters partially seen in the background (Roy Dillow Collection).REX ALLEN, ROY ROGERS, TIM SPENCER, GENE AURY, EDDIE DEAN, SMOKEY ROGERS, NUDIE COHEN, TEX WILLIAMSLittle Trigger and Roy Rogers on tour in Great Britain, fresh off the boat.